Requesting Full Access to Kingston's Grand Theatre
Saturday, August 29, 2009
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The Problem:
In response to, "Group Seeks Grand Timeline," I wish to make a comment about the complete lack of safe access to the stage.
I am a member of Open Voices Community Choir and, in May we held a concert at the Grand Theatre. Another choir member and I had to take the risk of accessing the stage from outside using two very steep makeshift ramps that were provided by the Grand Theatre and laid over two sets of stairs because we both use wheelchairs. The grade was very steep and far exceeded the safety standards, but with the help of several men from the choir, we were able to use them without getting hurt.
I had to enter and exit the stage twice using those makeshift ramps. Once to go out during intermission, through the pouring rain to enter by the other door so I could use the washroom that was discussed in this article, and the second time, to leave for the night.
Both times I narrowly escaped injury. The first time I slid down the wet ramp, fish-tailing all the way, and came close to hitting the wall at the end. The men had to work hard to keep me from sliding off the side as well. The second time, I didn’t fishtail, but I hit the wall with a mild impact. I was not hurt. These scenes, and one of the men helping the other person out in a manual wheelchair, were captured on video and, out of frustration, were posted on You Tube.
See:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt33-gXNt3E&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzdVJ1GmyhQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOt-pVyfzjM
It infuriates me to think that, once again, I had to take a risk because a request for accommodation at the time it would have been cheapest to fix, was ignored. I asked about making the stage accessible during the public input meetings prior to the renovations. This is because I had already been on the stage twice with the choir. There were 4 people in wheelchairs back then, so the choir graciously built a longer and safer ramp that could be put up to a side door, and it was donated to the Grand Theatre. Who knows where the ramp has gone now?
My request for an accessible stage was quickly shot down because I was told it would be too expensive and there would not be enough people with disabilities who want to get onto the stage.
What I'd like to know is what makes them think we wouldn't welcome an opportunity to finally take part in the performing arts? What better way to make friends and become more integrated in a community?
This blatant refusal to consider it was even more shocking because of its timing. The new Accessibility for Ontarian’s With Disability Act had just been passed. Standards were to be written and, as they were passed, enforcement dates were to be set, and the province would start to lay some pretty hefty fines.
The Solution:
On a moving forward basis and, after looking at some of the issues involved with fixing the stage, I want to first acknowledge that I saw, understood, and can appreciate, what some of the difficulties are in making the stage more accessible.
I then want to ask again, for safe access to the stage. It can be done. Consider the following:
Transit: http://wheelchairdemon-transit.blogspot.com
Health: http://wheelchairdemon-health.blogspot.com
In response to, "Group Seeks Grand Timeline," I wish to make a comment about the complete lack of safe access to the stage.
I am a member of Open Voices Community Choir and, in May we held a concert at the Grand Theatre. Another choir member and I had to take the risk of accessing the stage from outside using two very steep makeshift ramps that were provided by the Grand Theatre and laid over two sets of stairs because we both use wheelchairs. The grade was very steep and far exceeded the safety standards, but with the help of several men from the choir, we were able to use them without getting hurt.
I had to enter and exit the stage twice using those makeshift ramps. Once to go out during intermission, through the pouring rain to enter by the other door so I could use the washroom that was discussed in this article, and the second time, to leave for the night.
Both times I narrowly escaped injury. The first time I slid down the wet ramp, fish-tailing all the way, and came close to hitting the wall at the end. The men had to work hard to keep me from sliding off the side as well. The second time, I didn’t fishtail, but I hit the wall with a mild impact. I was not hurt. These scenes, and one of the men helping the other person out in a manual wheelchair, were captured on video and, out of frustration, were posted on You Tube.
See:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt33-gXNt3E&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzdVJ1GmyhQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOt-pVyfzjM
It infuriates me to think that, once again, I had to take a risk because a request for accommodation at the time it would have been cheapest to fix, was ignored. I asked about making the stage accessible during the public input meetings prior to the renovations. This is because I had already been on the stage twice with the choir. There were 4 people in wheelchairs back then, so the choir graciously built a longer and safer ramp that could be put up to a side door, and it was donated to the Grand Theatre. Who knows where the ramp has gone now?
My request for an accessible stage was quickly shot down because I was told it would be too expensive and there would not be enough people with disabilities who want to get onto the stage.
What I'd like to know is what makes them think we wouldn't welcome an opportunity to finally take part in the performing arts? What better way to make friends and become more integrated in a community?
This blatant refusal to consider it was even more shocking because of its timing. The new Accessibility for Ontarian’s With Disability Act had just been passed. Standards were to be written and, as they were passed, enforcement dates were to be set, and the province would start to lay some pretty hefty fines.
The Solution:
On a moving forward basis and, after looking at some of the issues involved with fixing the stage, I want to first acknowledge that I saw, understood, and can appreciate, what some of the difficulties are in making the stage more accessible.
I then want to ask again, for safe access to the stage. It can be done. Consider the following:
- In the short-term, why not build another long portable ramp similar to what the choir had built so it can be used at the side door that is still there? It would at least guarantee safer access for those using a wheelchair.
- Why not raise funds with a fund-raising project so a porch lift could be bought and added to one end of the stage? It would then provide full indoor access. I don't recall seeing any barriers to prevent one from going up the aisle to access the rest of the theatre, including the accessible washroom.
- For a change room, why not use moveable walls, similar to those used in some Board Rooms, to create a temporary change room on demand? It would be cheaper than installing an elevator to the rest of the change rooms.
This is a dangerous suggestion because it would NOT be acceptable for the performing arts group to hold parties or leave a person excluded on stage by his or herself for very long. For this to work, it would have to become part of the norm for a group to adopt a practice of automatically finding an alternative room in which to hold these social events.
- I would not feel good about bankrupting the Grand Theatre or seeing the citizens of Kingston have to pay hefty fines for a mistaken understanding of what it means to accommodate a person who has a disability.
- Please ask those of us, who are more than willing to volunteer our time, to work with the experts to solve the problem. We live with the barriers each and every day and some of us even make it a hobby to research best practices so we can share knowledge of cost effective solutions which have been proven to work.
Transit: http://wheelchairdemon-transit.blogspot.com
Health: http://wheelchairdemon-health.blogspot.com
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